Chapter 4: What Remains

Only after Doyoon, with a devastated expression, held onto Haesu and brought him back to the hospital room did he hear that he had lost a significant portion of hearing in one ear due to trauma.

And then, he had to face another truth he did not want to hear.

“When Mr. Choi Haesu was brought in, emergency treatment was required. After the CT scan, we confirmed a concussion due to head trauma, and that has been treated successfully. However, during the examination, we found that Mr. Choi was approximately nine weeks pregnant…”

“…What?”

“Before the procedure, there were signs of lower abdominal bleeding. When we conducted an urgent ultrasound, the fetal heartbeat had already stopped.”

“Wh… what…”

“….”

Haesu grabbed Doyoon beside him with trembling hands and tried to steady his breathing.

The doctor’s words began to separate in his mind, each fragment drifting independently.

All of it shattered the fragile calm he had just regained.

With his face slack, he looked up at Doyoon.

“What did you just say… a child… I mean…”

The doctor lowered his head without answering.

That silence felt like confirmation.

It also felt like a final verdict.

Tears fell again from his blank expression.

He could barely remain seated without crying.

“I understand.”

“I’m sorry.”

The doctor continued speaking in formal terms.

Natural miscarriage.

Rest.

Absolute stability.

None of it registered.

After bowing, the doctor left.

Doyoon’s hand rested on Haesu’s shoulder.

His own face was filled with shock from everything Haesu had gone through.

“I didn’t know there was a child.”

“Haesu…”

“There was a child…”

His voice carried no emotion.

He placed his hand on his now-flat abdomen.

Of course, he felt nothing.

There had been so many things he hadn’t known before.

Now it just felt empty.

It was absurd.

His expression twisted as a sound rose from deep within his throat.

Just like when he had learned Seha had nearly died.

“It doesn’t make sense…”

“Haesu…”

“It’s a lie…”

It had to be a lie.

Seha unable to wake up.

A child gone before he even knew.

And his right ear, eerily silent.

“Ah…!”

He wanted to see Seha.

He had lost too much at once.

Only by holding onto him could he keep from collapsing.

Three weeks had passed since Haesu woke up.

A month since the accident.

Kwon Seha was still unconscious.

His body had been recovering.

All surgeries had been successful.

But his head had taken the most damage.

Even if he woke up, there was a high chance of cognitive impairment.

At first, that devastated Haesu.

Now, it didn’t matter.

As long as Seha lived.

They said he was recovering.

So he believed he would wake up someday.

Seha hadn’t slept properly for weeks before the accident.

Haesu told himself he was just catching up on sleep.

Thinking that way made it easier to hold his limp hand.

“Seha.”

“……”

“Kwon Seha.”

Haesu withdrew from all his projects.

Advertisements.

Films.

The penalties were enormous, but none of that mattered anymore.

I should have done this earlier.

If I had, would we have spent more time together?

Would we have stayed home that day?

Even knowing it wouldn’t change anything, Haesu regretted everything.

He told himself it was because he still vividly remembered Seha shielding him.

“You shouldn’t sleep too long.”

“……”

“Wake up soon.”

There was no answer.

A man who used to wake at the slightest movement now did not respond even to his voice.

News broke.

Actor Choi Haesu had withdrawn from the film Glass due to a traffic accident.

They tried to hide details of the accident, but an explanation was needed.

It had been a long time since Haesu posted anything for his fans.

He found even that burdensome now.

Everything felt empty.

He had been discharged from the hospital.

Most details of the incident were kept confidential.

Only Doyoon and the doctor knew.

“…Hello. Chairman. This is Choi Haesu.”

“I’m Seha’s grandfather.”

The chairman of Youngshin.

Seha’s only remaining family.

Haesu had never imagined meeting someone like him.

He had thought vaguely that someday he would greet him properly.

But not like this.

Seha’s parents had died in an accident when he was young.

It was public knowledge.

Despite harshly raising him, the chairman cherished him deeply.

“I didn’t expect to go through this again.”

“……”

“Losing everything once was enough.”

Haesu couldn’t lift his head.

“I have nothing to say to you, but it’s difficult to face you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No one is at fault.”

“……”

“It’s already been three months.”

Three months.

Everyone waited.

Haesu.

The chairman.

Doyoon.

The doctors.

Seha’s condition had improved.

His injuries healed.

His organs recovered.

But his eyes remained closed.

Everything was controlled under the chairman.

No information leaked.

Haesu thought it was remarkable how composed the chairman remained.

He himself was barely holding on.

He had lost a child.

Seha remained unconscious.

Nothing else mattered.

Even his dreams felt distant.

Seeing the chairman, who resembled Seha, made his chest tighten.

“They say he’s stable now…”

“……”

“But this grandson of mine… he’s going too far.”

Haesu wondered if it would have been easier to be blamed.

He already blamed himself enough.

But the chairman only stared through the glass.

Just like Haesu.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t stay here like this.”

“…Yes.”

“Seha wouldn’t want this.”

His voice was gentle.

Like Seha’s.

That made Haesu cry.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

“Eat properly. Sleep. Take care of yourself. Then he’ll wake up.”

“Yes… I will.”

He bit his lip to stop himself from breaking down.

He bowed.

The chairman patted his back.

For the first time, Haesu felt like he could breathe.

There was something he had to do.

Until Seha woke up, he had to endure.